Holiday Gift Guide Part 7 — Picks for In-the-Know and On-the-Go Urbanites
Do you tend to wait until the eleventh hour to get your holiday shopping done? Hey, we’ve all been there! Fortunately, with 12 days left until Christmas Eve, you can still do most of your shopping online and receive your purchase in time to wrap everything up and stick it under the tree thanks to retailers being increasingly proactive about offering customers expedited shipping (and on behalf of all procrastinators, we thank you!). Below, you’ll find some great gift ideas for b-girls and HBICs alike!
PUMA Sky Wedge Metal Sneakers, $54 (from $90). Available at Shop.PUMA.com
For the last two years, wedge sneakers have amassed a devoted following, granting women the comfort and agility of athletic footwear without forcing them to sacrifice their sense of personal style (as gym shoes tend to do!). And, of course, those of us who are vertically challenged and who could’ve very well penned Skee-Lo’s “I Wish” cut can benefit from getting a height boost via the built-in wedge heels. If, like me, you’re a strong supporter of the wedge sneaker trend, then you’ll appreciate the bold look of the PUMA Sky Wedge Metal Sneakers. To create this sneaker, PUMA used the 1993 Sky Hi, a hi-top sneaker originally intended for basketball players, as a foundation, retaining its high collar and slim profile. Next, the brand tucked a 3″ wedge inside of the shoe and got busy with the fabric choices and design accents, relying on a teal metallic suede and matching leopard print textile, then making these pop with glittery silver stripes featuring teal contrast stitching along the sides.
Topshop Desert Scene Bodycon Dress, $70. Available at US.Topshop.com
Just because you’re living in an urban jungle doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate the beauty of a vast desert landscape. This body-hugging, long-sleeved jersey dress features a photorealistic landscape scene of a vast desert with impressive mountain ranges behind it and a starry, purplish sky above the breathtaking view.
Dr. Jart+ The Original BB Cream Set, $34. Available at Sephora stores.
Are you or is someone you know the Goldilocks of beauty balms, constantly on the hunt for the cream that’s just right? Then this is the answer to your needs! This beauty balm set incorporate travel-sized tubes of four best-selling Dr. Jart+ BB creams, each formulated to address a specific skin concern. The kit contains the Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25, one of my personal favorites (read my review here) since it feels cooling and soothing on parched skin thanks to the hyaluronic acid in the formula, which hydrates the skin and helps it retain moisture, smoothing the skin’s surface, and acting as a cushioning agent for the collagen molecules that are pivotal to overall firmness and elasticity. The formula’s sea water content, meanwhile, is packed with minerals that increase cellular metabolism and cellular turnover, helping to make skin appear supple and create the “dewy” effect we all covet. Last, he Dr Jart+ Advanced Water Bead Technology, assist tese moisturizing ingredients in penetrating the top layers of skin. Other ingredients include aloe leaf juice and Portulaca oleracea, both of which soothe the skin, minimize redness and inflammation, and calm any topical irritations. Next, there’s the Renewalist BB Beauty Balm SPF 40, which is designed for mature skin and therefore includes a moisture holding agent, along with babassu butter and olive oil to strike the perfect moisture balance, helping to control sebum production without dehydrating the skin. A higher SPF factor, meanwhile, protects tender skin from harmful free radicals that lead to age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Women with oily or blemish-prone skin will likely gravitate to the Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm SPF 25, which features soothing green tea and aloe to calm topical irritations and diminish the appearance of redness, caviar extract to protect the skin from both inner pollutants and environmental ones and to stimulate cellular regeneration, and arbutin to help diminish the appearance of dark spots (including those left behind by petulant blemishes). Last, there’s the Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, a multi-function product containing antioxidant bio-peptides and adenosine to protect skin from environmental pollutants, firm the skin and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boost luminosity, and improve elasticity.
Shameless Jewelry Wing Cuff in Colorado and in Montana, $80 each. Available at ShamelessJewelry.com
Is there an angel in your life who has earned her wings? Then be the one to bestow them upon her in the form of these hinged bracelets from Shameless Jewelry. Each gold-toned cuff features outspread wing details with inset colored crystals.
Patricia Field Embossed Genuine Leather Five Finger Gloves, $38. Available at PatriciaField.com
Sure, these half gloves won’t necessarily protect hands from the bitter winter cold but there’s no denying their hotness. Made of embossed leather in a chic snakeskin print, these finger gloves cover all of your digits and reach up to about an inch above the wrist.
House of Harlow 1960 Jude Clutch, $275. Available at HouseofHarlow1960.com
As if the goth-flavored snakehead brassy metal closure weren’t striking enough (not to mention the opalescent, marble-shaped stone tucked inside the snake’s mouth for a slightly creepy effect reminiscent of the orb atop Maleficent’s staff), this hard-cased ivory minaudiere features a rocker chic brassy chain fringe all along its bottom edge.
Casio Baby-G BA112-2A Watch, $120. Visit Baby-G.com for retailers.
You’ll be singing “Baby Can I Hold You?” to this Baby-G watch, which fuses fashion and function. The shock-resistant and water-resistant timepiece features a lightweight, glossy resin band in a violet-tinged blue shade, with pink lettering along the case adding to the design’s ’80s vibe. The 3D metallic face, meanwhile, features both an analog and digital time display, the latter even including exposed gear heads to lend the piece and industrial edge.
Westward Leaning Love Thy Neighbor Sunglasses, $250. Available at WestwardLeaning.com
These shades pay homage to the mosaics created by the Huichol people of western central Mexico via the incorporation of chaquira beads made on a loom and then inlaid into each frame by hand, using patterns like those employed by Huichol artisans. But Westward Leaning went beyond tipping their hat at our neighbors across the border: using fashion as a means to increase social consciousness and to create a sense of solidarity, the brand has vowed that, for every pair of sunglasses sold, it will donate $10 to Love Thy Neighbor Mexico, a non-profit organization that strives to spread awareness about how the illegal drug trade within the United States is linked to the harrowing violence in Mexico.
Monserrat De Lucca Microphone Necklace, $70 . Available at PatriciaField.com
If, like Nas, all you need is “one mic,” then you’ll appreciate the sentiment behind this sculptural pendant, featuring an antique golden finish.
Remington T Studio featuring Silk Ceramic Curling Wand, $26.99. Available at Target.com
Most city slickers can barely fathom the idea of a camping trip since it would involve giving up all of the amenities to which they’re accustomed — and, for female urbanites, doing without electricity and hence, without hair styling tools, seems like a major sacrifice. Girls who like experimenting with different hairstyles and who want salon-like results in a flash will appreciate the Remington The T|Studio SILK Ceramic 1″ – 1 1/2″ Curling Iron. This innovative styling tool features ceramic barrels and plates coated with raw silk through a unique enzyme extraction process that transforms silk into into powder form. The heat-activated silk proteins help you achieve silkier, more manageable, long-lasting results, so that any curls you create will remain frizz-free, bouncy, and voluminous for a loner period of time — plus, the 30-second heat-up time allows you to complete the styling process in the blink of an eye. This limited edition Target model even comes with six ribbon hair elastics for those voluminous buns and updos.
Charmed Circle Snow Globe Pendants, $345. Available at CharmedCircle.com
If you have your very own “We’ll always have Paris” moment, hold it close to your heart with the Charmed Circle Snow Globe pendant featuring a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower. Each pendant is made of hand-blown glass set in sterling silver and features golden “snowflakes” for a glamorous yet whimsical take on the treasured souvenir items we’ve all held in our hands and shaken vigorously. Other options include the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building (for a very Affair to Remember vibe), and Big Ben.
